Grounds Services, Inc. | Turf, Tree & Shrub Management System: Turf Insects: Ants

ants Ants

There are a variety of ant species throughout Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan. Although they can be very beneficial to the environment and your lawn (the will forage for insects and their eggs - including termites! They also turn and aerate soil and some species even pollinate plants). With all the benefits ants bring, they can also pose a problem to the lawn and even the home if they are able to establish a colony within a structure.

Although there are over 100 species of ants in Ohio, we will only look at a few that you are likely to cross your lawn in the Greater Toledo area or Southeast Michigan.

Carpenter Ant

Carpenter Ant Damage (left).
Adult winged carpenter ant (right).

Carpenter Ant

Identify: 3/8 to 1/2 inch in size
Black, Red or Brown color

Food Source: Outside they feast on insects and honeydew produced by aphids or scale. Inside the home carpenter ants feed on syrup, meats, sugar and other sweets.

Damage: Carpenter ants do not feed on wood, though they do make their homes in moist or decaying wood (which may also include building structures). Piles of saw dust can be observed as these ants burrow and expand their nest, drawing out the saw dust to keep their tunneling system clean and free of debris.

Cornfield Ant

Cornfield ant mounds in yard

Cornfield Ants

Identify: 1/10 - 1/4 inch in size
Light to dark brown - Large head - emit odor when crushed

Food Source: Outside they feast on nectar, insects and honeydew produced by aphids or scale. Inside they feed on sweets.

Rarely nest in homes, they nest in rotting wood, soil and rocks. They are primarily a nuisance.

Pavement Ant

Pavement ant mound on sidewalk

Pavement Ants

Identify: 1/12 - 1/4 inch in size
Reddish brown to black

Food Source: Outside they feast on insects and honeydew produced by aphids or scale. Inside they feed on sweets, grease, pet food, nuts and meats.

Located under stones, in cracks, along the curb edges, in cracks of masonry and woodwork and under concrete slabs (hence the name). It is common to see their ant mounds in the cracks of driveways or sidewalks. During the cooler months, pavements ants may make their way indoors.

Interested in learning more? A fascinating site dedicated to ants: www.antweb.org

There is information online that directs homeowners to pour boiling water on ant hills to remedy the residence of these pest. While boiling water would probably kill a good number of the ants, it will also kill the root structure of the plants the boiling water is poured over. Besides that, there is risk involved with having a pot of boiling water transferred from the house to the lawn, and then poured. There are product available over the shelf at many stores designed specifically to rid a property of ants. Grounds Services also offered surface feeding insect control which will target ants.

What homeowners can do:

A perimeter insect control or ant bait will help to keep ants from entering.
If ants are getting in, it usually means there is a food source for them. Ensure that areas have been cleaned thoroughly and wiped or mopped.
Fly paper where they frequent will trap them (you can then discard the fly paper).

Grounds Services is Ohio certified in:
Commercial Core
Aquatic
Industrial Vegetation
Ornamental Pest Control
Ornamental Weed Control
Vertebrate Animal Control
Turf Pest Control
General Pest Control